Predation Flashcards
Predation
feeding interaction where a predator eats the prey
Predator adaptations
hunting packs
agility
speed
senses (sight and smell)
predator dentition and claws
camouflage
Prey adaptations
herding
camouflage
warning colouration
poisonous secretions
Herding
Herding is when prey form larger groups of animals as protection against predators. This helps because there is greater safety in numbers. There are many eyes to see danger and to protect each other. It requires a high level of cooperation between individuals
Hunting packs
Hunting packs occur when predators often work together as a team
Predator-prey relationships
Predators control the numbers of prey and the prey determine the amount of predators
Predator-prey graph
Shows the predator-prey interaction.
There is a slight lag in the response of predator numbers.
Prey numbers will usually be higher than predator numbers.
Especially noticeable in ecosystems with small communities (low diversity).
It is not quite so closely linked if the predator eats a range of prey, or if the prey is predated upon by several different predators.
Intraspecific competition
competition between individuals of the same species
Interspecific competition
competition between individuals of different species
Niche
A niche is a specific ecological role in a habitat or ecosystem. A niche defines how members of the species participate in the distribution of resources, and includes such features as the time of day they are active, the plants they exploit, how they vie with competitors
Competitive Exclusion
If two species compete at the same time for the same resource, one species is sure to have some competitive advantage. The advantage may be small—a bit earlier out of the nest in the morning or a bit quicker to detect danger—but eventually that advantage results in the more-competitive species will displace its rival completely.
Resource partitioning
Resource partitioning means that two or more species may co-exist in the same habitat because they occupy different, specialised niches. For example in the same habitat birds and bats can both eat insects:
Different times - one hunts during the day, one at night.
Different parts - one hunts in trees, the other hunts flying insects in the air.
Specialism
Some species have very specific adaptations for very particular niches. These species are called specialists. Other species have adaptations that allow them to survive in a wide range of habitats and niches. These species are called generalists.
Symbiosis
Symbiosis is a close and often long-term interaction between two or more different species
Mutualism
Mutualism is a symbiotic relationship between two species where both benefit from the interaction.
Commensalism
Commensalism is a symbiotic relationship between two species where one benefits from the interaction and the other is not affected.
Parasitism
Parasitism is a symbiotic relationship occurs between two species where one benefits (parasite) and the other is harmed (the host). Ectoparasites live on the outside of the host and endoparasites live internally in the host.
Social Organisation
Many animals occur in groups or colonies where the animals are interdependent. There is a social organisation evident in these groups (herds, packs or swarms) or colonies that consists of various survival strategies.
These strategies help the animals to survive in their environment and include the following:
the forming of herds or swarms, to avoid predators; also known as the anti-predation strategy
the forming of packs or groups as a successful hunting strategy; also known as cooperative hunting
animal groups with prominent breeding pairs, where the sharing of tasks among different members of the group occurs
Herds or swarms as anti-predation strategy
The main advantage of forming herds and flocks/swarms, rather than leading a solitary existence, is protection against predators. The larger a group, the better the chances of survival of the individuals. The cooperation between members of a herd or flock often serves as their anti-predation strategy. The many ‘eyes and ears’ of a group help to detect any approaching predators.
Packs as a successful hunting strategy
As a successful hunting strategy, some predators such as the African wild dog, lions and hyenas, hunt together in packs. This type of hunting where the group members work together to hunt and kill their prey is called cooperative hunting. The African wild dog is one of the most successful hunters in the animal kingdom. Almost 80% of all their hunting efforts result in the killing of prey.
Sharing of tasks
Animals that reach the highest level of social organisation in a community are called eusocial animals and live together in highly organised colonies. The most well-known examples are social insects, such as bees, ants, termites and wasps. The only mammalian examples are the naked mole rat (Heterocephalus glaber) and the Damaraland mole rat.
Ecological succession
Ecological succession is the change in communities in a particular ecosystem over time.
Primary succession
ccurs when organisms settle for the first time in an area where there was previously no life. Secondary succession occurs when organisms grow in an area disrupted by human activity or natural disasters
Pioneers
The first plants and animals to become established in an area are called pioneers. They form pioneer communities. These communities change the environment to make it suitable for the establishment of more complex communities. Pioneers are often called weeds.
An example of secondary succession
This takes place faster than primary succession as soil usually is already present from previous growth
Climax communities
The climax community is the end stage of succession in a particular ecosystem that will be different depending on the biome
